We are having some problems with our pony mare rearing. Although she is very green, this behaviour seems out of character for her and I suspect it has something to do with the saddle. After watching the OP videos, we will check saddle fit thoroughly before riding her again.

I know this is an old thread, but I think it is worth reviving. Thank you to the OP who started the thread and posted the videos.

I am part of the group now starting to search for a saddle (Dressage). I have the difficulty, that when looking at catalogues, etc. they only give the Tree Width (N/M/MW/W), and the length (16.5", 17", etc.) but none actually include their gullet widths in the specifications (Tekna Saddlery for example doesn't list a single specification to their saddles on their website. Just pictures.)

So if I have all the measurements of my horse, including the needed gullet width, the length, etc. how do I go about next?

I'm unfortunately in East Tennessee and have so far not found a Saddle Fitter in my area - and all saddle fitters I find here in the USA are either in Florida (Wellington, Ocala area) with prices so much through the roof that I'd pay 4x the amount for the saddle of what I paid for the horse or way up north (PA, NY, etc.) ... I'm really in a sour spot for saddle fitters :P

Also: The Wintecs, as well as the Teknas, as well as some Tolouse offer this system, where you can change the triangle within the saddle - that widens the tree, but doesn't widen the gullet and that would cause the gullet to taper, I'm guessing. But that brings me to the same question that was posed somewhere above: A horse's spine seems to be even front to back, why would you want to have it narrower on the back, than on the front?

Wow what an eye opener! Those videos explained so many things about my old pony's behaviour, and his conformation. He is a POA who was ridden most of his life in a saddle with FQ bars! The channel was way too wide and now the muscles on both sides of his back are totally atrophied. He also has a terrible bucking habit when going into a canter, but that would only be natural since he was forced to wear a saddle far too long for him!

These videos were a wonderful help to clearly demystify the saddle fit process. "Ted" was a great model for the demonstrations as the pressure points were stimulated the reaction showed clearly. This neatly tied the whole package together on what to watch for and why.

But that brings me to the same question that was posed somewhere above: A horse's spine seems to be even front to back, why would you want to have it narrower on the back, than on the front?

On a physiological level, the spinal processes, and associated ligaments, are generally larger in the thoracic area. This is basically because they're under more stress - they must cope with a moving shoulder and ribcage plus the weight of major vital organs inside it. A wider channel here helps stop the saddle interfering with the ligaments either side of the spine.

If you press gently but firmly along either side of the spine it's possible to feel the ligaments (but try not to prod too hard - some horses don't like it!), and as you move towards the tail you should notice a reduction in size.

As as channel width is concerned, it seems to me to be a mish-mash of design ideas. Saddles originally designed for heavier types often (but not always) have a wider channel than those for TBs and warmbloods, but styles that prove popular with riders are sometimes used across tree-types with little thought for panel changes.

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